Our Leadership

The foundation’s leadership team has extensive experience in leading education reform efforts, creating innovative health and wellness initiatives, and supporting art and cultural activities.

Bryan S. Traubert, M.D.

Bryan S. Traubert is a board certified ophthalmologist, civic leader, health expert, and wellness advocate. For 25 years, he's practiced ophthalmology in Chicago as a partner with Eye Physicians and Surgeons of Chicago. He also participates in global medical missions – offering health services to people in need. For the past two years, he's provided care in Africa.

In 2007 to aid in the effort against childhood obesity, Dr. Traubert founded ChicagoRun, an innovative running and fitness program which “puts kids on the fast track to health.” ChicagoRun is active in 55 Chicago public schools. More than 13,000 students in grades K-8 run/walk for at least 15 minutes nearly every day at school. Students log their mileage and receive awards when reaching certain fitness goals.

As President of the Pritzker Traubert Family Foundation (PTFF), which is dedicated to enhancing public education and quality of life in Chicago, Dr. Traubert has initiated programs to improve the health of young people. For example, in collaboration with Harvard University and the National YMCA, PTFF funds an after school program designed to reduce childhood obesity through exercise and nutrition. Dr. Traubert's other health-related efforts include being a member of the board of the Sprague Institute, a visionary leader in public health, medical research and wellness promotion, and Chicago Lighthouse for people who are blind or visually impaired. He's a former board member of the Harvard School of Public Health, Wendy Will Case Cancer Fund and Children's Memorial Hospital.

Dr. Traubert's civic engagement has deep roots in Chicago. He is immediate past board chairman of Marwen which educates and inspires thousands of underserved Chicago children through the visual arts and offers them college counseling as well. He is a board member of Chicago Public Radio (WBEZ) and Renaissance Society at the University of Chicago. He's a former board member of Noble Street Charter Schools, National Public Radio, Citadel Foundation and Facing History and Ourselves.

Last year, President Barack Obama appointed Dr. Traubert to the White House Fellows Commission. This group of 28 distinguished citizens is responsible for recommending exceptional men and women to the President as White House Fellows.

Dr. Traubert received his B.S. degree in biology from The Citadel and his medical degree from the University of Illinois. Following his ophthalmology residency at Michael Reese Hospital, he completed a fellowship in medical ethics at the University of Chicago and the executive management program at Northwestern's Kellogg School of Management. Dr. Traubert is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the Illinois Association of Ophthalmology and the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery.

An avid outdoors and fitness person, Dr. Traubert enjoys running, cycling, tennis, skiing, gardening, theater, contemporary art and architecture. A longtime resident of Chicago, he's married to business executive, Penny Pritzker. They live in Lincoln Park and have two children.

Penny Pritzker is a co-founder and former director of the foundation. Currently serving as the United States Secretary of Commerce, Ms. Pritzker has been an entrepreneur, civic leader, and philanthropist, with more than 25 years of experience as a business executive in many industries. Ms. Pritzker is the founder and former Chairman and CEO of PSP Capital Partners, L.L.C. and its affiliate, Pritzker Realty Group, L.L.C. (PRG), as well as Chairman and co-founder of Artemis Real Estate Partners. To learn more about PSP Capital Partners, L.L.C. and PRG, please go to www.pspcapital.com.

With more than 25 years of experience in the real estate, hospitality, senior living, financial services and private equity industries, Ms. Pritzker previously developed such diverse companies as Vi (formerly Classic Residence by Hyatt), a leader in luxury living for older adults, The Parking Spot, a large U.S. network of off-site airport parking facilities, and Centergate Residential, a vertically-integrated, multi-family development, investment and management company.

Ms. Pritzker previously served on President Obama’s Council for Jobs and Competitiveness and on the President’s Economic Recovery Advisory Board. She was National Co-Chair of Obama for America 2012 and was National Finance Chair of the 2008 Barack Obama for President campaign.

She served as a director on the boards of each of Hyatt Hotels Corporation, the William Wrigley Jr. Company, Marmon Group, and LaSalle Bank Corporation.

Much of Ms. Pritzker’s civic work focused on public education. She was a member of the Chicago Board of Education and was the advisory board chairman of Skills for America’s Future (SAF). SAF is a national initiative that brings together businesses, community colleges and others to prepare workers for 21st century jobs. She’s past chair of the Chicago Public Education Fund, the first venture philanthropy to raise private equity to invest in public schools. She also served on the Civic Committee of the Commercial Club of Chicago.

Ms. Pritzker was a board member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the Economic Club of Chicago. She served as a trustee of Stanford University and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. She’s a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. She’s a former chairman of the board of the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago and a former member of the Harvard University Board of Overseers.

Ms. Pritzker earned her bachelor’s degree in economics from Harvard University and her J.D. and M.B.A. degrees from Stanford University.

Jody Boutell is the Grants Manager for The Pritzker Traubert Family Foundation (PTFF) which invests in people and programs that enrich the life experiences of Chicago’s children. With a strong focus on improving schools, the foundation seeks leaders, programs and ideas that will positively impact student learning. In addition to education, the Foundation extends its support to programs that promote health and fitness and an appreciation of arts and culture.

Ms. Boutell also serves as the liaison between PSP Capital Partners and its adoption and support of Lorraine Hansberry College Prep in the Englewood neighborhood. Hansberry is part of the Noble Network of Charter Schools which strives to prepare low income students with the scholarship, discipline and honor to succeed in college and to lead exemplary lives.

For nearly 17 years, Ms. Boutell has worked in various administrative capacities for Pritzker family business entities, including The Pritzker Organization and Pritzker Realty Group. Over the years, she has organized numerous events supporting Pritzker Traubert family interests supported by PTFF. She also helped establish and support Chicago Run, which encourages Chicago public school children to make running a daily activity.

Ms. Boutell's community involvement focuses on her Roscoe Village neighborhood. She is the President of the Hamlin Park Advisory Council (HPAC), a group of community volunteers who work to improve Hamlin Park grounds, facilities and programming to better serve local families. Ms. Boutell is also Vice President of the Friends of Friedrich L.Jahn Elementary School, a Chicago public school.

She lives in Chicago with her husband and two children. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Michigan State University.